Member Spotlight: Maureen Healey, ABC

Executive Director of the Bronte Village BIA

Maureen Healey, a seasoned communications practitioner with a background in journalism and corporate communications, knows first-hand the value of strong communications and backing it up with internationally-recognized standards.

Now as an Executive Director for the Bronte Village Business Improvement Area (BIA) in Oakville, Ontario, she leads the association with advocacy work, partnerships, government relations and communications. For Maureen, the move from generalist communications to a certified leadership role in association management was a natural fit.

But recognizing the value of associations began early in Maureen’s career. Joining IABC in 1993 as a student member at Centennial College, she soon joined the IABC/Toronto board and local and regional boards across the country, including Calgary and Vancouver. “This is where I met other practicing communicators and knew this is where I want to be, what I want to do.” It soon progressed to ABC accreditation and a position as Chair of the International Awards Committee, which runs the Gold Quill Awards. The awards usually accept submissions between September and January.

Why submit an entry? For Maureen, competing for awards, especially as a junior practitioner, is a fast-track way of understanding the template of award-winning communications and the professional measurement of outcomes. “Whether you are contributing to or leading an organization, you have to be a critical thinker,” says Maureen. “It’s this strategic piece that is a game-changer. You have to know how to contribute to the business bottom line, apply different tools and tactics and measure their impact. It’s all about measurement, measurement, measurement!”

Maureen Healey graduated with a degree in journalism from Ryerson University and completed a Certificate in Corporate Communications from Centennial College.